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‘Tashkent- Islamabad’ direct inaugural flight land at Islamabad airport tomorrow, June 14

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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TASHKENT, Jun 13 (APP):Uzbekistan Airways’ inaugural direct flight from ‘Tashkent to Islamabad’ will land at Islamabad airport tomorrow, June 14 for promoting economic integration and regional connectivity.
Uzbekistan Airways’ direct flight will land at Islamabad Airport tomorrow, Morning at 10:50 am and will continue its flight operation between Tashkent and Islamabad, the capitals of both countries, once a week on every Saturday.
The efforts of Ambassador Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Alisher Tukhtaev, for this of Uzbekistan Airways’ direct flight between the two countries are commendable.
This initiative will further strengthen the economic and trade ties between the two countries and reduce the distance between the people of the two countries.
Operating every Saturday, the new route underscores the shared commitment of Uzbekistan and Pakistan to strengthen their long-standing partnership and deepen cooperation across multiple sectors.
This direct link marks a strategic advancement in bilateral relations and aligns with the broader goals of the Central and South Asia Connectivity Initiative – a regional framework aimed at fostering infrastructure development, trade, energy cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between the two regions.
This is the second direct flight between the two countries, after the biweekly direct flights started between Tashkent and Lahore in this year, which is a part of the President Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev vision for regional connectivity and the result of his personal interest.
In addition to the new Islamabad route, Uzbekistan Airways currently operates biweekly direct flights to Lahore on Wednesdays and Fridays.
These connections are helping expand the airline’s regional footprint, linking Pakistan’s major cities not only with Uzbekistan, but also with the wider Central Asian region and beyond.
As part of a broader vision to enhance regional integration and connectivity, Uzbekistan Airways, the national carrier of the Republic of Uzbekistan, will launch direct flights between Tashkent and Islamabad on June 14, 2025.
Together, these routes support cross-border mobility, business travel, educational exchange, and cultural cooperation.
As both countries pursue ambitious agendas of modernization and economic diversification, the Tashkent-Islamabad flight offers a practical, high-impact platform for advancing trade facilitation, attracting investment, and enhancing regional supply chain networks.
Serving as gateways to larger regional blocs – Uzbekistan to Central Asia and the CIS, and Pakistan to the Indian Ocean and Gulf states – both nations are well-positioned to leverage this route as a channel for transregional trade and transit.
Beyond its commercial significance, the Tashkent-Islamabad route is poised to enhance people-to-people ties by enabling smoother, more direct travel for students, pilgrims, tourists, academics, and official delegations.
As both countries work to rebuild regionalism and trust, such air links play a crucial role in fostering mutual understanding, cultural diplomacy, and shared prosperity.
With a growing number of educational partnerships, cultural exchanges, and intergovernmental initiatives, improved connectivity is expected to significantly increase academic and civil society engagement.
The direct link is also expected to boost tourism in both directions and for Pakistani travelers, Uzbekistan’s famed Silk Road cities – Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva – are now more accessible than ever.
Likewise, Uzbek visitors can now more easily explore Pakistan’s rich landscapes, from the mountains of the north to historic and spiritual sites across the country.
This air route is a cornerstone of the Central and South Asia Connectivity Initiative, first proposed by the President of Uzbekistan in 2021.
The launch of the Tashkent-Islamabad route is not only a milestone in bilateral cooperation but also a broader statement of intent: to build a peaceful, interconnected, and economically resilient Asia.
It reflects a new chapter in regional diplomacy, where economic pragmatism and strategic connectivity go hand in hand.

ICT’s open door policy makes govt offices more accessible

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP):The open-door policy introduced by the Islamabad district administration is showing results and residents of Islamabad are now finding it easier to reach out to district officials through this policy.
According to the spokesman of ICT administration here, the open-door policy introduced by the Islamabad district administration is showing results. Citizens are meeting officials without prior appointments and getting their issues addressed in less time.
According to Deputy Commissioner Irfan Nawaz Memon, all district offices are following this policy. He said the move is meant to improve coordination between the public and the administration and ensure that complaints are addressed without delay.
Under the new approach, officials are required to meet citizens daily and listen to their concerns. The Deputy Commissioner himself is monitoring the situation and has directed that immediate action should be taken on public complaints.
“Citizens can visit any district office during working hours without an appointment. If they are not satisfied with the response from any department, they can contact the DC office directly,” said Irfan Nawaz Memon.
To support this effort, the administration has also made a 24/7 helpline available. Through this helpline, residents can register their complaints at any time and receive timely feedback.
Officials have been instructed to give proper attention to every visitor. The DC emphasized that listening to people and resolving their problems is now part of the daily duty of all officers.
The policy has already made a noticeable impact. People are getting more access to officials, and many minor issues are being solved on the spot. The process of waiting for appointments or making multiple visits to government offices has been reduced.
In addition, the district administration has said that it will continue to evaluate the policy to make further improvements. The DC noted that such steps are necessary to strengthen trust between the public and the administration.
The DC Office said that the open-door approach is one step toward meeting that demand and will help the administration stay connected with the needs of the people.
By removing barriers between citizens and officials, the Islamabad administration hopes to create a more effective system for handling complaints and improving services.

Bilawal urges International community to push India for dialogue on Kashmir, warns of water war risks

By
NNPS Desk
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0

ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): The head of the Pakistan parliamentary delegation and former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari called on the international community Friday to engage with India and emphasize that military confrontation is not a solution to the Kashmir dispute or terrorism, stressing that dialogue is the only way forward.

Speaking to the European think tanks and international media representatives in Brussels, Bilawal warned that India’s aggressive posture, including threats to revoke the Indus Water Treaty (IWT), could escalate tensions to dangerous levels.

“We are here to present Pakistan’s stance on recent tensions with India and expose New Delhi’s anti-Pakistan agenda,” he said.

He emphasized that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute must be resolved in line with United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Bilawal criticized India’s “new abnormal” policy of blaming Pakistan for any terrorist attack in India or Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir without evidence, leading to immediate threats of war.

He recalled that Pakistan had proposed an impartial international investigation into the recent Pahalgam incident, but India rejected the offer.

He condemned India’s suspension of the Indus Water Treaty, calling it a violation of international law and a “war crime” that threatens water access for 240 million Pakistanis. “If India weaponizes water, we may have no choice but to retaliate, risking a full-blown water war,” he warned.

Bilawal reiterated that Pakistan had shown restraint, offered dialogue, and adhered to international law, urging the same standards be applied in South Asia as in Europe. “If the world ignores this crisis, it could become a nuclear flashpoint,” he cautioned.

On the Pahalgam attack, Bilawal stated that India had failed to provide evidence linking Pakistan to the incident. “To this day, India hasn’t revealed the identities of the attackers or how they crossed the heavily militarized border,” he said, accusing India of violating Pakistan’s sovereignty with its recent airstrikes.

Bilawal urged Europe and the global community to intervene before tensions spiral out of control, warning that inaction could lead to another war between the nuclear-armed neighbors.

Taking part in the briefing, Pakistan Climate Change Minister Dr Musadik Malik said India jeopardizing international water agreements by threatening to revoke the IWT.

India’s unilaterally cancellation of IWT, set a dangerous precedent, undermining all water treaties worldwide, Malik said.

He warned that if India blocks Pakistan’s water share, no nation could trust future water-sharing agreements.

The minister criticized India’s approach, stating, “India is not just mocking Pakistan but the entire world. No country will be able to rely on water treaties if this violation goes unchecked.”

Malik urged the international community to take immediate notice of India’s actions, warning that disregarding the IWT could lead to broader instability in transboundary water management.

Meanwhile, Senator Sherry Rehman calling the Indus “the lifeline of Pakistan,” emphasized that it is the only major river basin sustaining the country’s agriculture and supplying water to nearly all population centers.

She noted that Pakistan shares this essential water source with India, a larger upper riparian state, under the framework of the Indus Waters Treaty—an agreement that has endured for decades but now faces rising strain due to escalating water-related challenges.

“Pakistan is already facing severe water stress in many regions,” Rehman said, warning that some provinces are grappling with acute scarcity that directly impacts crop production and livelihoods.

She pointed to India’s unilateral water diversions and illegal upstream infrastructure as serious concerns, stating that such actions significantly reduce the river’s downstream flow.

“This not only jeopardizes irrigation but also disrupts the river’s natural flow into the sea,” she added.

“When that flow is blocked, it leads to waterlogging and ultimately renders fertile land infertile land we can no longer sow.”

Rehman underscored the growing risk of water becoming a regional flashpoint, cautioning against politicizing the issue.

KP Govt strongly condemns attack on Iran

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
PESHAWAR, Jun 13 (APP):A meeting of the provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, was held on Friday at the Civil Secretariat in Peshawar.
Members of the provincial cabinet, the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretaries, and administrative secretaries of provincial departments also attended the meeting.
During the cabinet meeting, a strong condemnation was expressed regarding the Israeli attack on the brotherly Islamic country of Iran.
The attack on Iran was declared tantamount to an attack on the entire Muslim world, says an offical statement.
The meeting stated that attacking Iran is a blatant violation of international laws and Iranian sovereignty.
“We express full solidarity with our Iranian brothers and sisters and will extend our complete support to them on every front,” the statement said.

Brass Band performance enthralls visitors at Lok Virsa

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP):In a vibrant celebration of music and culture, Lok Virsa hosted its first-ever brass band performance on Friday, transforming the cultural complex into a lively arena of rhythm and melody.
A brass band group from Rawalpindi delivered an energetic live performance, captivating the audience with a dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary tunes.
The event marked a historic moment for Lok Virsa as it embraced a new form of musical expression, in line with ongoing efforts to make the venue a thriving hub of cultural activities.
Brass bands, known for their powerful and engaging sound created through a range of brass instruments, offered a unique musical experience to attendees. The event drew a large crowd, including families, young people, and cultural enthusiasts from various walks of life.
The audience expressed great enthusiasm for the event, calling it a refreshing addition to the capital’s cultural landscape.
“It was such an electrifying performance -I have never seen anything like this at Lok Virsa before,” said Samina, a visitor from Islamabad who attended with her children. “My kids couldn’t stop dancing to the beats,” she added.
Ali Raza, a university student, shared his excitement: “I came here by chance, but the music pulled me in. It’s amazing to see such cultural experiments happening in public spaces.”
Another visitor, Zubair Khan, praised the initiative, saying, “Events like these bring people together. It’s wonderful to see Lok Virsa exploring new dimensions of cultural heritage.”
The organizers said the event was part of a broader initiative to diversify the cultural offerings at Lok Virsa and promote inclusive public engagement with performing arts.
More such performances are expected in the future to continue enriching the cultural fabric of the city.

Bilawal, EU climate envoy discuss climate justice, regional water security

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
BRUSSELS, Jun 13 (APP): The European Union (EU) Special Envoy for Climate and Environmental Diplomacy, Anthony Agotha, called on Member of the National Assembly and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday and discussed climate justice, regional water security and inclusive green cooperation.
The meeting took place in the context of the ongoing visit of the high-level Parliamentary Delegation of Pakistan to the European Union.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari welcomed the Special Envoy’s engagement and reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to climate justice, inclusive environmental cooperation, and multilateralism.
Drawing attention to the growing convergence between regional stability and climate security, he expressed serious concern over India’s unilateral decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
He cautioned that such actions constitute a reckless assault on longstanding international agreements and set a dangerous precedent in the politicisation of natural resources, particularly in a climate stressed and densely populated region like South Asia.
He briefed the Special Envoy on Pakistan’s acute climate vulnerability, noting that despite contributing less than one percent to global greenhouse gas emissions, Pakistan remains among the top ten countries most affected by climate induced disasters. He recalled the devastation caused by the 2022 floods and underscored the urgent need for scaled up adaptation financing to build resilience among the most vulnerable communities.
The two sides also exchanged views on advancing Pakistan-EU green cooperation.
Bilawal Bhutto Zardari outlined Pakistan’s interest in forging deeper partnerships with the European Union on green technology transfer, including innovation in agriculture, water management, and renewable energy.
He emphasised that climate adaptation must go hand in hand with a sustainable energy transition and welcomed potential European collaboration in scaling up Pakistan’s renewable energy capacity, particularly solar and wind.
In addition, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari highlighted Pakistan’s efforts toward developing resilient infrastructure and nature based solutions to mitigate future climate shocks. He stressed the importance of mobilising long-term investment in sustainable development while ensuring that equity and inclusion remain at the core of global climate responses.
He appreciated the European Union’s continued support to Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2022 floods and expressed the hope that both sides would continue to work together to build a climate-resilient and sustainable future.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared understanding that environmental challenges must not be politicised and that climate cooperation should be guided by principles of fairness, responsibility, and solidarity.

Fifth Pakistan–EU round on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament held

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
ISLAMABAD, Jun 13 (APP): The fifth round of the Pakistan–European Union Dialogue on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament was held here on Friday.
The Pakistan delegation was led by Ambassador Tahir Andrabi, Additional Foreign Secretary for Arms Control, Disarmament, and International Security (ACDIS), while the European Union delegation was headed by Ambassador Stephan Klement, EU Special Envoy for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs news release said.
Both sides engaged in a comprehensive exchange of views on issues related to international and regional peace, security, and strategic stability. Pakistan side briefed their EU interlocutors on developments in the wake of recent Pakistan-India conflict.
The discussions also focused on various dimensions of disarmament and non-proliferation, with particular reference to the agenda of the UN General Assembly’s First Committee, the Conference on Disarmament and International Conventions, including the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC) and the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
In addition, the Dialogue reviewed recent trends in Multilateral Export Control Regimes (MECRs) and assessed the implications of Emerging Technologies on global security. The avenues for enhanced cooperation in the domain of Science Diplomacy were explored as well.
The two sides agreed to hold the sixth round of the dialogue in Brussels in 2026.
During his visit to Pakistan, the EU Special Envoy met the Foreign Secretary and attended roundtable discussion at the Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad.
The Pakistan–EU Dialogue on Non-Proliferation and Disarmament is an integral part of the broader strategic engagement between Pakistan and the European Union, which has been institutionalized since 2012. Pakistan attaches high importance to this regular mechanism of dialogue, recognizing it as a vital platform for constructive engagement on global and regional security as well as on disarmament and non-proliferation issues.

BISP, partner banks discuss 4th tranche disbursement via retail network

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
MULTAN, Jun 13 (APP):The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) convened a high-level coordination meeting with representatives from all partner banks here Friday to review and finalize operational plans for the upcoming quarterly 4th tranche disbursement among beneficiaries through the retail network.
Chaired by Additional Secretary BISP Tahir Noor, the meeting followed BISP’s recent operational shift from the campsite disbursement model to the retail network model.
The transition was made in response to the ongoing nationwide heatwave, with the objective of safeguarding beneficiaries, especially women, from harsh weather conditions and prolonged exposure at outdoor payment campsites.
The meeting was aimed at ensuring timely, transparent, and efficient disbursement of financial assistance to BISP beneficiaries across the country. Key areas of discussion included system readiness, cash availability at retail outlets, biometric verification enhancements, grievance redressal mechanisms, and real-time monitoring tools.
Dr. Tahir Noor, Additional Secretary, BISP emphasized the importance of seamless coordination among all stakeholders to uphold service standards and facilitate a smooth disbursement process. Special focus was placed on improving beneficiary experience, minimizing delays, and strengthening transparency and accountability in payment mechanisms.
Partner banks shared their preparedness plans and highlighted measures taken to expand their retail network capacity, streamline transaction processes, and ensure uninterrupted service delivery during the disbursement period.
The meeting concluded with all parties reaffirming their commitment to effective implementation, timely payments, and supporting the broader goals of financial inclusion and social protection.
This coordination reflects BISP’s continuous efforts to enhance delivery systems, ensuring that the quarterly financial support reaches eligible women beneficiaries in a dignified and efficient manner.
The Zonal Director South, North and Deputy Director of BISP were also present.

PCB RID senior cricket tournament starts on Saturday

By
Zaka Ullah Ch
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0
LAHORE, Jun 13 (APP):The Regional Inter-District (RID) Senior Cricket Tournament 2025-26 is set to commence on Saturday, 14 June in six regions across the country including Abbottabad, Bahawalpur, FATA, Lahore, Multan and Sialkot Regions.
The tournament will kick off in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Larkana Regions from 15 June, while Faisalabad, Islamabad and Peshawar Regions will host matches from 16 June.
The Inter-district senior tournament matches in Quetta Region will begin from 19 June, while fixtures in Hyderabad and Rawalpindi Regions will commence from 20 June. Dera Murad Jamali will host matches from 21 June, while matches in Karachi Region will begin from 27 June.
A total of 110 teams will play three-day matches across the 16 regions in the country. The players were selected based on their performances in the recently concluded Challenge League (two-day) and President’s Trophy Grade-II, while some were retained after featuring in last year’s events. The forthcoming red-ball tournament will serve as a talent feeder for the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy.

Saudi Arabia condemns Israeli strikes on Iran, urges int’l action to halt aggression

By
Kamran Muraad
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0
By Rehan Khan
RIYADH, June 13 (APP):The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has strongly condemned Israel’s large-scale military strikes on Iran, describing the attacks as a blatant violation of Iranian sovereignty and a serious breach of international laws and norms.
In an official statement issued by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Friday, the Kingdom denounced it as “heinous Israeli aggressions,” expressing deep concern over the escalating violence and its implications for regional and global stability.
“Such aggression undermines the sovereignty and security of a brotherly nation and constitutes a clear breach of international laws and conventions,” the statement said.
Riyadh called on the international community, particularly the United Nations Security Council, to fulfill its responsibilities by taking immediate steps to halt the hostilities and prevent further escalation.
“The Kingdom affirms that the Security Council and the global community bear a grave responsibility to act swiftly to stop this dangerous aggression,” the foreign ministry added.
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